Didactic fiction; Domestic fiction; England -- Fiction; Married women -- Fiction
“Upon my word, doctor,” answered Booth, “no Popish confessor, I firmly
believe, ever pronounced his will and pleasure with more gravity and
dignity; none therefore was ever more immediately obeyed than you shall
be.” Booth then quitted the room, and desired the doctor to recall him
when his business with the lady was over.
Doctor Harrison promised he would; and then turning to Amelia he said,
“Thus far, madam, I have obeyed your commands, and am now ready to
receive the important secret which you mention in your note.” Amelia now
informed her friend of all she knew, all she had seen and heard, and all
that she suspected, of the colonel. The good man seemed greatly shocked
at the relation, and remained in a silent astonishment. Upon which
Amelia said, “Is villany so rare a thing, sir, that it should so much
surprize you?” “No, child,” cries he; “but I am shocked at seeing it
so artfully disguised under the appearance of so much virtue; and, to
confess the truth, I believe my own vanity is a little hurt in having
been so grossly imposed upon. Indeed, I had a very high regard for this
man; for, besides the great character given him by your husband, and the
many facts I have heard so much redounding to his honour, he hath the
fairest and most promising appearance I have ever yet beheld. A good
face, they say, is a letter of recommendation. O Nature, Nature, why art
thou so dishonest as ever to send men with these false recommendations
into the world?”
“Indeed, my dear sir, I begin to grow entirely sick of it,” cries
Amelia, “for sure all mankind almost are villains in their hearts.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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